Table 327.10.

Average scores and standard deviations on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general and subject tests: 1965 through 2021

[Standard deviations appear in square brackets]
Academic year ending	Number of GRE takers		Total GRE takers as a percent of U.S. bachelor's degrees1	General test sections2												Subject tests3
				Verbal			Quantitative			Analytical reasoning4			Analytical writing4			Biochemistry and cell and molecular biology			Biology			Chemistry			Computer science			Education			Engineering			Literature			Mathematics			Physics			Psychology
1	2		3	4			5			6			7			8			9			10			11			12			13			14			15			16			17
1965	93,792		18.7	530		[124]	533		[137]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	617		[117]	628		[114]	†		[†]	481		[86]	618		[108]	591		[95]	---		[†]	---		[†]	556		[91]
1966	123,960		23.8	520		[124]	528		[133]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	610		[115]	618		[110]	†		[†]	474		[87]	609		[106]	588		[94]	---		[†]	---		[†]	552		[91]
1967	151,134		27.0	519		[125]	528		[134]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	613		[114]	615		[104]	†		[†]	476		[90]	603		[104]	582		[91]	---		[†]	---		[†]	553		[93]
1968	182,432		28.8	520		[124]	527		[135]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	614		[114]	617		[104]	†		[†]	478		[87]	601		[105]	572		[91]	---		[†]	---		[†]	547		[93]
1969	206,113		28.3	515		[124]	524		[132]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	613		[112]	613		[104]	†		[†]	477		[88]	591		[103]	569		[89]	---		[†]	---		[†]	543		[89]
1970	265,359		33.5	503		[123]	516		[132]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	603		[111]	613		[113]	†		[†]	462		[92]	586		[110]	556		[90]	---		[†]	---		[†]	532		[91]
1971	293,600		35.0	497		[125]	512		[134]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	603		[114]	618		[117]	†		[†]	457		[95]	587		[115]	546		[91]	---		[†]	---		[†]	530		[92]
1972	293,506		33.1	494		[126]	508		[136]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	606		[115]	624		[124]	†		[†]	446		[93]	594		[119]	544		[96]	---		[†]	---		[†]	528		[92]
1973	290,104		31.5	497		[125]	512		[135]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	619		[110]	630		[114]	†		[†]	459		[96]	593		[114]	545		[96]	---		[†]	---		[†]	529		[92]
1974	301,070		31.8	492		[126]	509		[137]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	624		[110]	634		[115]	†		[†]	452		[93]	591		[121]	547		[99]	---		[†]	---		[†]	530		[95]
1975	298,335		32.3	493		[125]	508		[137]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]
1976	299,292		32.3	492		[127]	510		[138]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	627		[112]	627		[107]	---		[†]	454		[93]	594		[119]	539		[101]	---		[†]	---		[†]	531		[93]
1977	287,715		31.3	490		[129]	514		[139]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	625		[113]	630		[109]	---		[†]	453		[93]	592		[115]	532		[101]	---		[†]	---		[†]	532		[95]
1978	286,383		31.1	484		[128]	518		[135]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	622		[113]	624		[108]	---		[†]	452		[91]	594		[114]	530		[102]	---		[†]	---		[†]	529		[97]
1979	282,482		30.7	476		[130]	517		[135]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	621		[117]	623		[104]	---		[†]	451		[89]	592		[115]	525		[102]	---		[†]	---		[†]	530		[97]
1980	272,281		29.3	474		[131]	522		[136]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	619		[115]	618		[105]	---		[†]	449		[90]	590		[116]	521		[105]	---		[†]	---		[†]	534		[98]
1981	262,855		28.1	473		[128]	523		[136]	†		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	617		[115]	615		[103]	---		[†]	453		[90]	590		[116]	520		[99]	---		[†]	---		[†]	532		[97]
1982	256,381		26.9	469		[130]	533		[137]	498		[126]	†		[†]	†		[†]	616		[114]	616		[105]	---		[†]	456		[89]	593		[115]	521		[100]	---		[†]	---		[†]	532		[97]
1983	263,674		27.2	473		[131]	541		[138]	504		[128]	†		[†]	†		[†]	623		[115]	620		[105]	---		[†]	459		[90]	599		[114]	527		[98]	---		[†]	---		[†]	542		[95]
1984	265,221		27.2	475		[130]	541		[139]	512		[129]	†		[†]	†		[†]	622		[115]	619		[102]	---		[†]	461		[90]	604		[114]	530		[97]	---		[†]	---		[†]	543		[96]
1985	271,972		27.8	474		[126]	545		[140]	516		[129]	†		[†]	†		[†]	619		[114]	621		[101]	---		[†]	459		[89]	615		[120]	531		[95]	---		[†]	---		[†]	541		[95]
1986	279,428		28.3	475		[126]	552		[140]	520		[129]	†		[†]	†		[†]	612		[114]	628		[106]	---		[†]	464		[87]	616		[119]	527		[96]	---		[†]	---		[†]	542		[97]
1987	293,560		29.6	477		[126]	550		[140]	521		[128]	†		[†]	†		[†]	616		[116]	629		[104]	---		[†]	465		[86]	619		[119]	526		[95]	---		[†]	---		[†]	536		[95]
1988	303,703		30.5	483		[123]	557		[140]	528		[128]	†		[†]	†		[†]	615		[114]	631		[108]	---		[†]	467		[85]	622		[120]	525		[94]	---		[†]	---		[†]	537		[94]
1989	326,096		32.0	484		[125]	560		[142]	530		[129]	†		[†]	†		[†]	612		[114]	642		[117]	---		[†]	465		[87]	626		[116]	528		[91]	---		[†]	---		[†]	538		[95]
1990	344,572		32.8	486		[123]	562		[143]	534		[128]	†		[†]	---		[†]	612		[114]	662		[123]	---		[†]	461		[84]	617		[111]	523		[92]	---		[†]	---		[†]	537		[95]
1991	379,882		34.7	485		[122]	562		[141]	536		[129]	†		[†]	---		[†]	609		[113]	660		[123]	---		[†]	457		[85]	611		[111]	523		[93]	---		[†]	---		[†]	535		[95]
1992	411,528		36.2	483		[120]	561		[140]	537		[129]	†		[†]	---		[†]	605		[113]	654		[128]	---		[†]	462		[82]	610		[117]	525		[92]	---		[†]	---		[†]	536		[95]
1993	400,246		34.4	481		[117]	557		[140]	541		[129]	†		[†]	---		[†]	606		[114]	662		[133]	---		[†]	462		[80]	602		[115]	516		[94]	---		[†]	---		[†]	536		[97]
1994	399,395	5	34.2	479		[116]	553		[139]	545		[129]	†		[†]	---		[†]	620		[116]	627		[113]	---		[†]	493	6	[104]	601		[115]	517		[95]	---		[†]	---		[†]	538		[96]
1995	389,539	5	33.6	477		[115]	553		[140]	544		[131]	†		[†]	---		[†]	622		[116]	675		[138]	---		[†]	488	6	[102]	596		[113]	513		[96]	---		[†]	---		[†]	544		[98]
1996	376,013	5	32.3	473		[114]	558		[139]	549		[131]	†		[†]	---		[†]	614		[114]	678		[135]	---		[†]	489	6	[104]	604		[119]	512		[97]	---		[†]	---		[†]	547		[99]
1997	376,062	5	32.1	472		[113]	562		[139]	548		[129]	†		[†]	---		[†]	620		[115]	684		[143]	---		[†]	487	6	[103]	602		[114]	525		[100]	---		[†]	---		[†]	554		[99]
1998	364,554	5	30.8	471		[113]	569		[141]	543		[133]	†		[†]	---		[†]	628		[113]	686		[137]	---		[†]	477	6	[100]	609		[118]	530		[100]	---		[†]	---		[†]	563		[100]
19997	396,330		33.0	468		[114]	565		[143]	542		[133]	†		[†]	---		[†]	626		[114]	684		[137]	---		[†]	†		[†]	604		[115]	527		[100]	---		[†]	---		[†]	559		[99]
20007	387,422		31.3	465		[116]	578		[147]	562		[141]	†		[†]	---		[†]	629		[114]	686		[133]	---		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	530		[99]	---		[†]	---		[†]	563		[98]
2001	433,109		34.8	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]
2002	536,523		41.5	473		[123]	597		[151]	571		[139]	†		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	†		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]	---		[†]
20038	440,982		32.7	470		[121]	598		[148]	†		[†]	4.2		[1.0]	517	9	[100]	635	9	[114]	682	9	[125]	712	9	[97]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	538	9	[98]	620	9	[131]	669	9	[151]	580	9	[101]
20048,10	446,661		31.9	469		[120]	597		[148]	†		[†]	4.2		[1.0]	517	9	[101]	643	9	[115]	675	9	[120]	715	9	[93]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	537	9	[97]	621	9	[130]	665	9	[148]	586	9	[101]
20058,10	474,594		33.0	467		[118]	591		[148]	†		[†]	4.2		[0.9]	518	9	[100]	647	9	[117]	675	9	[117]	715	9	[91]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	540	9	[97]	623	9	[130]	672	9	[151]	592	9	[101]
200610,11	508,445		34.2	465		[117]	584		[149]	†		[†]	4.1		[0.9]	519	9	[99]	650	9	[118]	677	9	[116]	717	9	[92]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	541	9	[97]	627	9	[129]	678	9	[153]	598	9	[101]
200710,11	561,014		36.8	462		[119]	584		[151]	†		[†]	4.0		[0.9]	521	9	[97]	650	9	[120]	689	9	[115]	715	9	[91]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	542	9	[98]	636	9	[130]	686	9	[155]	600	9	[101]
200810,11	545,311		34.9	457		[121]	586		[152]	†		[†]	3.9		[0.9]	525	9	[97]	651	9	[120]	694	9	[116]	712	9	[92]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	541	9	[98]	640	9	[131]	692	9	[156]	603	9	[101]
200910,11	600,702		37.5	456		[120]	590		[150]	†		[†]	3.8		[0.9]	523	9	[97]	650	9	[120]	699	9	[115]	708	9	[91]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	541	9	[97]	648	9	[134]	692	9	[156]	605	9	[103]
2010	630,028		38.2	---		[†]	---		[†]	†		[†]	---		[†]	525	9	[97]	651	9	[121]	700	9	[115]	702	9	[96]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	542	9	[98]	650	9	[134]	692	9	[157]	609	9	[103]
2011	700,755		40.8	151		[8.5]	151		[8.7]	†		[†]	3.7		[0.9]	525	9	[97]	651	9	[122]	703	9	[114]	698	9	[99]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	547	9	[98]	655	9	[135]	689	9	[156]	612	9	[103]
201212	586,370		32.7	151		[8.4]	152		[8.8]	†		[†]	3.6		[0.9]	526	9	[95]	658	9	[123]	703	9	[115]	693	9	[100]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	549	9	[99]	657	9	[136]	696	9	[158]	616	9	[102]
201312	663,439		36.0	151		[8.4]	152		[8.8]	†		[†]	3.6		[0.9]	524	9	[94]	664	9	[121]	700	9	[114]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	551	9	[98]	658	9	[136]	702	9	[156]	616	9	[102]
2014	542,469		29.0	150	13	[8.0]	152	13	[9.0]	†	13	[†]	3.6	13	[0.9]	522	9	[92]	671	9	[121]	699	9	[113]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	546	9	[99]	659	9	[137]	705	9	[156]	615	9	[102]
2015	545,790		28.8	150	14	[8.5]	152	14	[8.9]	†	14	[†]	3.5	14	[0.9]	522	9	[92]	668	9	[119]	694	9	[112]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	544	9	[100]	658	9	[136]	705	9	[156]	614	9	[103]
2016	551,426		28.7	150	14	[8.5]	153	14	[9.0]	†	14	[†]	3.5	14	[0.9]	†	9	[†]	668	9	[118]	693	9	[115]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	543	9	[99]	660	9	[140]	707	9	[157]	615	9	[103]
2017	547,413		28.0	150	14	[8.4]	153	14	[9.1]	†	14	[†]	3.5	14	[0.9]	†	9	[†]	667	9	[120]	687	9	[114]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	543	9	[100]	661	9	[141]	712	9	[158]	617	9	[104]
2018	538,105		27.2	150	14	[8.4]	153	14	[9.2]	†	14	[†]	3.6	14	[0.9]	†	9	[†]	670	9	[120]	690	9	[118]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	543	9	[102]	661	9	[147]	712	9	[160]	618	9	[106]
2019	530,404		26.3	150	14	[8.5]	153	14	[9.4]	†	14	[†]	3.6	14	[0.9]	†	9	[†]	665	9	[123]	689	9	[121]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	542	9	[105]	664	9	[149]	714	9	[162]	619	9	[109]
2020	465,299		22.8	150	14	[8.6]	154	14	[9.4]	†	14	[†]	3.6	14	[0.9]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	692	9	[125]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	669	9	[153]	717	9	[165]	622	9	[109]
2021	362,610		17.5	151	14	[8.6]	154	14	[9.6]	†	14	[†]	3.6	14	[0.9]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	692	9	[125]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	†	9	[†]	668	9	[153]	717	9	[165]	622	9	[109]

---Not available.

†Not applicable.

1GRE takers include examinees from inside and outside of the United States, while the bachelor's degrees include only those conferred by U.S. institutions.

2General test scores for 2011 and later years are not comparable with scores from previous years. Prior to 2011, GRE scores for the verbal and quantitative sections ranged from 200 to 800, in 10-point increments, as did scores for the analytical reasoning section until it was replaced by the analytical writing section in 2002. On August 1, 2011, the GRE revised general test was introduced. Scores for the revised verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections range from 130 to 170, in 1-point increments. In the revised general test, the score scale for the analytical writing section continues to range from 0 to 6, in half-point increments.

3Subject test scores are reported on a 200 to 990 scale, in 10-point increments, although the score range for any particular subject test is usually smaller. The education subject test was administered for the final time in April 1998. The engineering subject test was administered for the final time in April 2001. The computer science subject test was administered for the final time in April 2013. The biochemistry and cell and molecular biology subject tests were administered for the final time in December 2016. The literature subject test was administered for the final time in April 2021.

4The analytical reasoning section of the GRE, a multiple-choice test, was discontinued in September 2002 and replaced by the analytical writing section, an essay-based test. Scores for the analytical writing section range from 0 to 6, in half-point increments.

5Total includes examinees who received no score on one or more general test measures.

6Data reported for 1994 through 1998 are from the revised education test.

7Subject test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between October 1 three years prior to the reported test year and September 30 of the reported test year. These data are not directly comparable with data for most other years.

8Analytical writing test score data reflect the average for all examinees who tested between October 1, 2002, and June 30 of the reported test year.

9Subject test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year. These data are not directly comparable with previous years, except for 1999 and 2000.

10Verbal and quantitative test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year. These data are not directly comparable with previous years.

11Analytical writing test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year.

12For all three sections of the revised general test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing), score data for 2012 and 2013 reflect the average for all examinees who tested between August 1, 2011, and April 30 of the reported test year.

13General test score data reflect the average for all examinees who tested between August 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014.

14General test score data reflect the 3-year average for all examinees who tested between July 1 three years prior to the reported test year and June 30 of the reported test year.

NOTE: GRE data include examinees from both within and outside of the United States.

SOURCE: Graduate Record Examination Board, Examinee and Score Trends for the GRE General Test, 1964-65 through 1985-86; A Summary of Data Collected From Graduate Record Examinations Test-Takers During 1986-87; Guide to the Use of Scores, 1987-88 through 2022-23; GRE Volumes by Country, 2000-2015; Interpreting Your GRE Scores, 2005-06 through 2011-12; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2013-June 2016; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2012-June 2017; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2013-June 2018; A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2014-June 2019; and A Snapshot of the Individuals Who Took the GRE General Test, July 2017-June 2022. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys, 1964-65 through 1985-86; Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), "Completions Survey" (IPEDS-C:87-99); and IPEDS Fall 2000 through Fall 2021, Completions component. (This table was prepared May 2023.)